1999 DODGE DAKOTA Complaints

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA SLT WITH ABOUT 26500 ACTUAL MILES ON IT. I HAD THE TRUCK AT THE MECHANIC BECAUSE OF A NASTY 'CLUNK' IN THE FRONT END. TURNED OUT THE RIGHT BALL JOINT WAS SO WORN THAT IT NEEDED TO BE IMMEDIATELY REPLACED; THE LEFT IS SHOWING UNUSUAL WEAR AS WELL AND WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS "FAIRLY NORMAL" FOR THE 99 DAKOTA. THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT ACCEPTABLE.*AK

1999 DODGE DAKOTA 4X4 (83,000): VEHICLE "WANDERS". NOISEY FRONT SUSPENSION. LOCAL SHOP DIAGNOSED AS WORN BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS.*AK

THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS OF THE CONSUMER'S 1999 DODGE DAKOTA WORE PREMATURELY. *NM *NM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP TO HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BALL JOINTS WORE OUT COMPLETELY. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION THE WHEELS SQUEAKED AND CLANKED WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER BUMPS. *AK DEALER FOUND RIGHT UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHING NOISY. COOLING SYSTEM LEAK. THERMOSTAT AND GASKET REPLACED. *TT

A CLANKING NOISE STARTED COMING FRONT THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING. LEFT AND RIGHT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK... THE WHEELS FELT LIKE THEY WERE BONDING WHEN TURNING. THE NOISE AND BINDING WAS MORE NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS. TOOK VEHICLE TO GOODYEAR AUTOMOBILE SERVICE, WAS TOLD UPPER AN DLOWER BALL JOINTS AND INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS WERE NEEDED. SERVIC ECENTER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FROM CHRYSLER FOR THESE PARTS, EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL WAS FOR 2000 YEAR MODELS FORWARD THE PARTS WERE EXACTLY THE SAME. CONSUMER CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DODGE DEALER FOR AN ESTIMATE. WAS TOLD BY THE DODGE DEALER THE PARTS SHOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER AGAIN WITH AN ESTIMATE AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IT COULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *AK

MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA 4WD EXTENED CAB WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND I WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS INSPECTED AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR (4) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME TO CONTACT A REPRESENTATIVE AT DAIMLER CHRYSLER, WHO EVENTUALLY HUNG UP ON ME AFTER DENYING MY CLAIM OF DEFECTIVE PARTS. I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF MY CONVERSATION AND THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO WORK OUT A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION. THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO GET IT WARRANTED THROUGH DAIMLER CHRYSLER BUT WERE UNABLE TO.

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE VERY SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 04V596000 CONCERNING BALL JOINT WEAR. *AK

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE DAKOTA. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THE BALL JOINTS AS 2000 AND UP VEHILCLES THAT WERE RECALLED. I DO FALL OUT OF THE GUIDE LINES OG THE RECALL MANUFACTOR DATES, THIS TRUCK HAS MANUFACTOR DATE OF 8-98 LAST 8 OF VIN#XS128563. I FEEL THAT I AM CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE DATES OF RECALL AND THE BALL JOINTS USED ON MY TRUCK ARE THE SAME DEFECTIVE ONE USED ON THE RECALLED TRUCKS , AND SHOULKD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY UNSAFE TRUCK FIXED . *AK

ON FEBRUARY 6, 2004 MY 1999 DODGE DAKOTA HAD BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES REPLACED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE WEAR AND DETERIORATION. THE TRUCK HAD 46,500 MILES AT THAT TIME AND IS DRIVEN UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. IT IS NOT USED COMMERCIALLY. THE COST FOR REPAIRS CAME TO $1078. SUBSEQUENTLY, ON MARCH 4, 2005 I HAD TO HAVE TO HAVE MY UPPER BALL JOINTS REPLACED ON BOTH SIDES, AGAIN BECAUSE OF WEAR AND DETERIORATION. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS $338. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS USED BY DODGE ARE SUFFICIENTLY LACKING IN QUALITY, AND SO ARE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, AS WELL. *AK

LAST JULY AT ISSPECTION THE DEALER SAID THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED RELACED ON MY 1999 DAKOTA. THIS WAS AT 22000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT OFF ROAD AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT.*AK